Fortune's My Foe

ittle Time to

time is in unk

ring the same name as itself, and had then passed into the hands of that family's kinsmen, the Thornes--he looked ahead of him, expecting to se

ered that grimacing, pranked-up fop who had spoken as though, forsooth, he had some intimate knowledge of her and her doings. What did it mean? he asked himself in consequence. What? Was it possible that she, his modest, winsome Ariadne, in whose eyes truth shone, in whose every accent truth was proclaimed, cou

He could neve

ecially at the encounter they had had, as well as its result; but, now--would it not be best to say nothing whatever on the subject--to see, instead, wha

y, his feelings a little dashed--his heart a little sore,

ve not being, however, spoken of openly until a year or so ago. They had known each other from the time when his father, the late Sir Geoffrey Barry, had

p at Locket's, Pontack's, and Rummer's, amidst such company as Vanbrugh, Nokes, and gentle George Farquhar. "Foregad, what would you have? Why should I not be battered, broken? I'fags, I have laced myself with claret all my days, and done other things

and quavering voice, or other snatches from "Charming Creature," and, by midnight, would go reeling and staggering to bed. In one way, this was a bad example for his son; in another, it proved a good one; for the boy grew up hating and despising such habits as those of his father, and contemning the sight of an old man who had outlived all his dissolute companions yet had never outlived their dissolute ways. And he also grew up resolved that his life

-mine is one in which in these days interest is of greater value than merit, and a friend at Court of more use than courage and determination, if you have any interest, use it on my beha

yet, in the circumstances, it was pardonable enough; and, at least, the old baronet did not resent

ot, which made admirals and captains in those days). At any rate, the young man rose fast, and shifting from ship to ship, serving at one time as lieutenant in some great vessel of war, at another in command of a bomb-ketch, and, next, of a third-rate; and then woke u

oured and esteemed. This was the softer side, the romantic portion of his life; this--his love for Ariadne Thorne; a romance that had only one d

lly when she loved him. And if his girl did not love him, then--then! there was no truth in womankind; no truth in whispered words, in glances, and, later, in vows and protestations. For, a year before the

stening some lace about her throat; he saw, too, that she perceived him, for now she took her handkerchief and waved it to him, and then, leanin

recognise each other's forms; but--for lovers--that is enough. Whereon Geoffrey Barry, putt

u were not in your accustomed place. Almost I began to fear you might be unwell. Lover

ve failed." Then she asked, as now they entered the great saloon to which a domestic had by this time brought a large branch-candelabra,

or another great defeat; she is never satisfied! Soon it will come, And then, my Ariadne---- Ah!" he said, breaking off, "ah! I see you have already be

ith you partway down the avenue, the hood will be necessary. The dews are h

now he took a place by her side on a v

Geoffrey," she said, interrupting

e to s

ere came now a blush upon her fa

o, without doubt, hinted th

ssible!" sh

him. A gallant spark, too, if rich clothes and gauds make a man such. A gentleman figged out in London fashio

had turned very white. "I cannot understand. And--

he had not wandered by accident into private property, that it was possible you

e! Impossible! He must have been some str

ing," Geoffrey answere

y white; whiter even than before. He felt certain, too, that her hands were trembli

that a

rywhere, men of rank and wealth, who---- Oh!" she exclaimed, "I will summo

e summons. "If not, bid her come here." While on receiving an answer to the e

offrey Barry, since, thereby, he would better have believed in his mistress's good faith; for now this action on her part, this going outside to converse with her principal servant, her confidante, seemed a strange one on the girl's part; and, alas! he also heard a word, a few whis

still she was pale, and, he thought,

eft the house this evening to Mrs. Pot

d there before her, the lights from the candelabra illuminating his face. "A

face, "you do not believe me! Instead, you beli

said nothing. What could he say, he a

arry. I command you!" And now, slim girl as she was, and only as yet on the threshold of wom

he told himself, at le

here be no misunderstanding. S

floor, "to close that door when you spoke to your w

ing her in a moment, while, as she uttered that cry, she sank prostrate on to t

I hear

ranger, is my lover? Mine! The lover of

! Since you deny all. Since you wil